expressway

American  

[ik-spres-way] / ɪkˈsprɛsˌweɪ /

noun

1. a highway especially planned for high-speed traffic, usually having few if any intersections, limited points of access or exit, and a divider between lanes for traffic moving in opposite directions.

---

expressway British  

/ ɪkˈsprɛsˌweɪ /

noun

1. a motorway

---

Etymology

Origin of expressway

First recorded in 1940–45; express + way ¹

---

Compare meaning

How does expressway compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• expressway vs. highway

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

expressway

Joshua, a former heavyweight champion, was discharged from hospital two days after the Lexus SUV crashed on the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway, in south-west Nigeria.

From BBC ● Jan. 20, 2026

Taking the Y4, an expressway still under construction, allows one to realise just "how much the city has eaten into the bush" that surrounds it, said Moustapha.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2025

As L.A. officials assess the merits of a water taxi system designed to reduce car traffic at the 2028 Olympics, the Games’ organizers have set their sights on another expressway.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025

Urban renewal czars also cleared out lively urban neighborhoods from Boston to Los Angeles, and no major city was untouched by the urban expressway craze.

From Slate ● Sep. 16, 2024

The green welcome to abba town sign that led off the expressway would have been easy to miss because it was so small.

From "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• freeway
• interstate
• superhighway
• turnpike

---